Dare County Schools formally dedicated the football field at First Flight High School as the Warren C. Judge III Memorial Field preceding the game between Manteo High and First Flight on September 1. Guests were welcomed by FFHS Principal Tim Albert, and the ceremony was opened with prayer by Rev. Thomas E. Wilson of All Saints Episcopal Church. Superintendent of Schools John D. Farrelly began with an Albert Pine quote - “What we do for ourselves dies with us. What we do for others and the world, is and remains immortal.”

“Warren Judge’s leadership legacy remains with us, his family, his friends, his community, his county,” noted Farrelly, who then introduced dignitaries who were present:

Other notables included - Former Commissioner and Board of Education member Virginia Tillett, former Commissioners Allen Burrus and John Robert Hooper, Dare County Visitor’s Bureau Steering Committee Chair Susie Walters, former Dare County Schools Superintendent Dr. Sue F. Burgess; and Dare County School leaders - Chief Academic Officer Arty Tillett, Director of Administrative Services Terry McGinnis, and Director of Human Resources Dr. John Donlan.

Farrelly invited Board of Education Chair Bea Basnight to the podium. Basnight’s remarks contained vignettes about Judge, who was always motivated by doing what was right for the children of Dare County and beyond. “He was a friend to education,” said Basnight, who introduced Tess Judge, wife of the former County Commissioner, who became ill and passed away in November of last year. It was at the March 2017 meeting of the Board of Education that then Superintendent of Schools Dr. Sue Burgess made the announcement that the field would be named in Judge’s honor.

Tess Judge, a community leader in her own right, shared stories about conversations she and her husband had together. She was moved by the naming of the field, by the reception for friends and family, and expressed deep appreciation to Principal Albert and to Superintendent Farrelly. Then, the unveiling - with help from FFHS Athletic Director Ray Scott: Judge, Basnight, and Farrelly (accompanied by his son, Jack) pulled the ropes so all could see the sign just below the scoreboard - Warren C. Judge III Memorial Field.

It is
the policy of Dare County Schools to prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, disability or age in all programs and activities.